< Matthew 19 >
1 When Jesus had ended this discourse, he left Galilee, and came to the confines of Judea, upon the Jordan,
2 whither great multitudes followed him, and he healed their sick.
3 Then some Pharisees came to him, and trying him asked, Can a man lawfully, upon every pretense, divorce his wife?
4 He answered, Have you not read, that at the beginning, when the Creator made man, he formed a male and a female,
5 and said, "For this cause a man shall leave father and mother, and adhere to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."
6 Wherefore they are no longer two, but one flesh. What, then, God has conjoined, let not man separate.
7 They replied, Why, then, did Moses command to give a writing of divorce, and dismiss her?
8 He answered, Moses, indeed, because of your untractable disposition, permitted you to divorce your wives, but it was not so from the beginning.
9 Therefore, I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for whoredom, and marries another, commits adultery: and whoever marries the woman divorced, commits adultery.
10 His disciples said to him, If such be the condition of the husband, it is better to live unmarried.
11 He answered, They alone are capable of living thus, on whom the power is conferred.
12 For some are eunuchs from their birth; others have been made eunuchs by men; and others, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, have made themselves eunuchs. Let him act this part who can act it.
13 Then children were presented to him, that he might lay his hands on them, and pray, but the disciples reproved them.
14 Jesus said, Let the children alone, and hinder them not from coming to me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And having laid his hands on them, he departed thence.
16 Afterward, one approaching, said to him, Good Teacher, what good must I do to obtain eternal life? (aiōnios )
17 He answered, Why do you call me good? God alone is good. If you would enter into that life, keep the commandments.
18 He said to him, Which? Jesus answered, "You shall not commit murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony.
19 "Honor father and mother; and love your neighbor as yourself."
20 The young man replied, All these I have observed from my childhood. In what am I still deficient?
21 Jesus answered, If you would be perfect, go sell your estate, and give the price to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven.
22 The young man hearing this, went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, Indeed, I say to you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven:
24 I say further, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
25 The disciples, who heard this with amazement, said, Who then can be saved?
26 Jesus, looking at them, answered, With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible.
27 Then Peter replying, said, As for us, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what then shall be our reward?
28 Jesus answered, Indeed, I say to you, that at the Renovation, when the Son of Man shall be seated on his glorious throne, you, my followers, sitting upon the twelve thrones, shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And whoever shall have forsaken, on my account, houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, shall receive a hundred fold, and inherit eternal life. (aiōnios )
30 But many shall be first that are last, and last that are first.
